Vacuum filling machine



y 27, 1952 1. H. RISSER 2,598,441

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 27, 1952 H. RISSER VACUUM FILLING MAHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1950 Ewe/d0? May 27, 1952 Filed March 1, 1950 l. H. RISSER 2,598,441

May 27, 1952 l. H. RISSER 2,598,441

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ////////////////1.\\\\-7////I///// /Z l a in the drawings and to the novel embodiment therein selected to illustrate the present apparatus, the vacuum filling machine disclosed comprises a base or cabinet I (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) providing an enclosure or housing for the operatin mechanism and a support for a feed table or container feed bed 2, a pair of vacuum overflow separator cylinders 3 and 4, one at each end of the unit, a liquid supply tank or reservoir 5 shown as located at the rear of the unit, and a manifold assembly 6 supported at its opposite ends and carried by the upper end of a pair of raising shafts or uprights 1 each slidably mounted and vertically movable in a supporting sleeve or collar 8 supporated upon the top of the cabinet 1.

The manifold assembly 6 is horizontally dis- 3 posed and comprises a vacuum manifold 6 and a pair of manifold bar brackets 9 mounted upon the opposite ends of a tube manifold bar 10, each bracket in turn being mounted upon the upper end of one of the raising shafts or uprights 1 whereby the vacuum manifold assembly is movable vertically. Mounted in spaced relation upon and depending from the manifold assembly are a plurality of filling tube assemblies ll, each assembly having a filling head 12 connected to one end of a flexible tube [3 receiving and supplying liquid from the liquid supply tank or reservoir 5 to each filling head 12. A supply line A is connected to the tank or reservoir 5 to supply liquid thereto.

The vacuum filling system employed in the present apparatus is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 in which the liquid M with which each bottle or container l 5 is to be filled is withdrawn from the supply tank 5. This liquid under pressure is forced through a flexible tube 13 to each filling head l2 of a vacuum filling tube H, and from the head downwardly through the communicating passage in an outer tube [6 encompassing an inner or vent tube 11. Secured to the exterior of the outer tube 16 at a point spaced from the end thereof, is a clamp l8 carrying a sealer rubber (9 which when seating upon the neck or upper the height of the liquid to be dispensed. This filling operation allows the liquid from the supply tank 5 to pass through a filling tubing l3 to a filler head 12 and then through an outer tube [6 and discharge into the bottle or container until a predetermined height is reached. When the liquid reaches a height approximately that of the lower end of the inner or air vent tube ll, flow of liquid is automatically discontinued.

When the filler tube assembly is withdrawn from each bottle or container and the seal between the bottle and the sealer rubber i9 is broken, further passage or flow of liquid is prevented. As vacuum is continuously applied to the inner tube H by the vacuum pump 2| through an overflow separator cylinder, leakage of liquid from each filling tube assembly is prevented or reduced to aminimum.

In the disclosed illustrative embodiment of the complete assembly, a pair of overflow separator cylinders 3 and 4 are provided, the cylinder 3 being connected to one end 24 of the vacuum manifold 6 of the manifold assembly 6 by a section of flexible tubing 25 and the cylinder 4 is connected to the other end 24 of the vacuum manifold 6* by a section of flexible tubing 26. This vacuum manifold is shown as connected to each filling tube assembly i l by means of a relatively short section of flexible tubing 21 connected to the upper end of its inner or air vent tube 11.

Vacuum is supplied to the flexible tubing 21 of the inner or air vent tube H of each filler assembly by means of the vacuum pump 2! (see Figs. 2 and 4). Connected to and controlling the vacuum from this pump is a control valve assembly including a'control valve plug 28 rotatably mounted in a housing 29. Connected to the rear 30 of the stationary valve housing are three sections of flexible tubing (Figs. 2 and 7) including a flexible tube 3! connected to the pump 2|, a flexible tube 32 connected to the overflow separator cylinder 3. a flexible tube 32 connected to the overflow separator cylinder 4 and an opening 33 connected to the atmosphere.

open end of a bottle or container [5 forms a sealing contact therewith. The inner or vent tube I1 is connected by a flexible tubing 20 with a vacuum overflow separator cylinder 3 which in turn is connected to a vacuum pump 2| by a tubing 32. Another section of tubing 22 returns the overflow from the cylinder 3 through a flapper valve 23.

When filling the bottles with the liquid to the desired predetermined height, relative vertical movement between each bottle and its vacuum filling tube assembly H with its outer and inner tubes l6 and H is effected whereby the lower end of each filling tube assembly is inserted in a bottle or container until the sealer rubber I9 forms a sealing contact with the neck or end of the bottle. Each sealer rubber and its clamp 18 are aflixed to the outer tube 16 but adjustable thereon to adjust The tubes 32 and 32 connecting to the overflow cylinders 3 and 4, respectively, open into a pair of arcuate slots 34 and 35 also adapted to be connected to the vacuum pump 21 and to the atmosphere, so disposed and arranged that in one position of the rotatable control valveplug 28, the overflow separator cylinder 3 is connected to atmosphere through the opening 33, while at the same moment the overflow separator cylinder 4 is connected to the vacuum pump 2! through the tube 3| (see Figs. 2 and 8), and when the valve plug 28 is rotated through an arc of approximately from the position shown in Fig. 8, the overflow cylinder 6 is connected to the atmosphere and the cylinder 3 is connected to the pump.

The rotatable control valve is pinned or keyed upon a stub shaft 33 which extends through and is journalled in a closure or end plate 31 of the valve housing 29, the extended end of the shaft having pinned thereon a vacuum control valve pulley wheel 38 provided with a substantially V- shaped groove 39 for receiving a resilient control valve belt 4! for rotating the pulley wheel, this belt being shown as anchored to the wheel by a set screw 42. The end plate or closure disc 31 is provided with an arcuate slot 33, and the rotatable valve plug 28 is cored and tapped to receive a stop pin or screw M limiting the travel of the plug to approximately 90.

The control valve is shown as cored to receive a cup-shaped sleeve providing a valve spring aaasnar phmgerliezicompassing a compression spring 4'6 bearing. againstthe-base of the sleeve and forcing thepl'ugin seating engagement withthe interior or theIrear wall 300i the housing. As shown in dotted lines. in-Figl 8, the arcuate slots34 and 35 as well. asthearc-of rotation of thecontrol valve, are limited-to anarc of. approximately 90. As the resilient: belt: ll slips upon reaching the end of the intended: arccf'travel of the valve, there is toarreccentric weight is. Rotaticn of thisw'ei'ght causesrotation of ashaft 50' keyed or pinned to asheave or cable lifting pulley 5 I and operating in a; bearing 52 secured to the wall of the cabinet. This: sheave or pulley is formed with a plurality of; substantially V-shaped, grooves, a groove 53 and. adjacent grooves 54, the groove 53 receiving and rotating the spring belt 4 I, while the grooves 54=are1each adapted to receive and securely anchor thereto. the opposite ends 55 and 56 of a pair of lifting cables 5'1. and 5l ,.respectively (see Figs. 5

and:6);. Onelifting'cable is taken ofi and extendsover'a series ofpulley wheels 58 at one'side of the cabinet; while the other lifting cable-is taken off and. extends over similar pulley wheels 58 at the other side: of the cabinet.

Attached to=each lifting cable adjacentthe opposite ends oflthe cabinet, is acableclamp assembly 59carried at the lower end of the vertical raising shafts or. supporting uprights 1. Each cable clampassembly is provided with a sleevelike:member or raising shaft spacer 6H aflixed to the: lower end of the raising shafts l and a depending and laterally projecting cable clamp 6| secured to thecable and joined together by a bolt andnut-6'2..

Mounted on:the face of the eccentric weight 49 is. a: lift pulley adjusting disc 63 secured to the end: of the/shaft 50 and locked to the eccentric 48 bya.cap screw or lock bolt 64 passing throughan arcuate slot 65 in the plate or disc 53. This ad-' justment. permits variation of the stroke or throw of theihandle 4] and the weight 49 to thereby adjust-the arc of movement of-the lift pulley 5| and the raising shafts 1 depending upon the movement'tobe accorded the filling tube assemblies H. In. addition, the eccentric is adapted to be held or retained in various adjusted positions by means of a spring-pressed locking pin or detent 66 having. atooth or projection 61 adapted to seat in a toothed segment or ratchet rack 68; Although the movement or height of travel of the filling tube assemblies may be varied as above described, to accommodate containers of different height, such travel; to and from filling position is sufiicient to at allltimes rotateithevacuum control valve-to its proper operative positions.

The; vacuum overflow cylinders 3 and d areeach-shown: as: provided with a vacuum gauge Hi,

a; vacuum. relief valve H, a ball check'v'alve 12- in the passage or connection with the flexible tubing 25 and 26 and a return drain 22 from each-cylinder returning the overflow back to the ontozthe feedztable or bed 2. To allow for-their primer placing and? alignment withthe filling It comprises an actuating handle: 4 connected through its-shank or stud 48 tatablevalve member having a pair or a tube assemblies: H this: feed table or fedzisz prm: vid'ed with an adjustable rearguide rail: mzuponl a pair of spaced laterally and rearwardly prov-l jecting supporting arms 14 each adjustably mounted in a rear guide rail. support- 15, and with a front guide rail 16' that is also mounted for lateral adjustmenton the container .feed bed 2 by meansof spaced elongated slots 11 and locking screws 18. I

By means of: the presentnovel construction. and assembly, movement of the handle'through the predetermined arc. of movement lowers and. raises the elevating shafts or supporting ups rightsi l, and when movedin; a clockwise dire'ce tion to their lowered position the filling tube: assemblies l l function:- to fill the bottles or containers aligned therewithto the desired: filling height. Simultaneously with the lowering of the filling tubes; the vacuum control valve plug 29 is rotated through an arc of approXimateIy QO whereby vacuum is applied to the overflow: cylinder 3 and the overflow cylinder 4 is open? to the atmosphere. This reversal is automatically accomplished by rotation of the valve, it beingevident that it requires but a: small arcuate movement of the lift pulley 5 I to-move thezvalveplug to the limits of its movementthrough the resilient belt 4|. 7

When the handle is moved to the leftor in a counterclockwise direction, the elevating shafts or supporting rods 1 are raised and carry therewith the filling tube assemblies to raised, inoperative position, and simultaneously therewith the vacuum control valve plug 29iis:rotat'ed to the position in which: vacuum is applied-tothe vacuum overflow cylinder 4: and the vacuum overflow cylinder 3: is open to, the atmosphere; This plug 29- is limited in its arc of travel by the'slo't '43 in the endplate 3 1' and the stop pin 44, regardless of the throw of" handle 4*!" and the cable lift pulley or sheave 5|: by reason of the resiliency-of thevacuum control valve belt '41.. The vacuum filling tube assemblies ll may. be positioned at any desired elevation touacconi modate bottles or containers of any desired height or capacity. Y

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim: 1-. In: a vacuumfilling apparatus for filling a plurality of containerswith liquid to. a prescribed: height from a liquid supplytank, 'a. support for receiving and retaining the containers during filling, a plurality or" vacuum filling tube assemblies for supplying the containers with liquid and each having an air vent tube and a liquid supply tube connected to the supply tank; a manifold connecting the air vent tubes, mech anism for raisingand loweringthe filling tube assemblies relative tothe support-,- a vacuum pump; a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the manifold, a vacuum control valve assembly having a plurality of ports one'connected to the vacuum ump, ne coanect ajto the atmosphere and cn'etc each" ofthe overflow cylinders, said valve assembly including a reii'atesl'ots each adapted to" alternately connectone ovei'fi'ow cylinder to the atmosphere and the other to the vacuum pump'wherebywhen-[the valve is rotated to one position andthe filling tube assemblies arelowered, one of the overflow cylinders is connected to the atmosphere andthe-other to the vacuum'pump, and when the valve is rotated to itsother position the oth'er overflewcylinder is connected to the atmosthere and the flrst men'tioned overflowcylinr'iei-- 7 l is connected to the vacuum pump,- and a commonmanually' operable actuating means con-- nected to the rotatable valve and to the raising andlowering mechanism for simultaneously actuating. the raising and lowering mechanism and the rotatable valve member.

2. In a vacuum filling apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with liquid to a prescribed height from a liquid supply tank, a support for receiving and retaining the containers during filling, a plurality of vacuum filling tube assemblies for supplying the containers with liquid and each having an air vent tube and a liquid supply tube connected to the supply tank, a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the air vent tubes, a control valve assembly having a housing provided with a plurality of ports one connected to a source of vacuum, one open to the atmosphere and one to each of the overflow cylinders, a rotatable valve member in the housing having passages alternately connecting the port leading to each cylinder to the atmosphere and then to the source of vacuum, mechanism for moving the filling tube assemblies into and out of filling position, and a common manually operable means connected to said mechanism and to the valve member for simultaneously moving the filling tube assemblies into and out of filling position and alternately rotating the valve for alternately connecting one cylinder and then the other to the source of vacuum and then to the atmosphere.

3. In a vacuum filling machine for simultaneously filling a desired number of bottles or other containers with liquid to a predetermined height from a liquid supply tank, a cabinet having a container feed bed for supporting the containers during the filling operation, raising shafts mounted for vertical movement in the cabinet, supporting means mounted upon the upper end of the raising shafts, a plurality of filling tube as semblies carried by the supporting means for receiving and dispensing a predetermined height of liquid to the containers, a vent tube and a liquid supply tube connected to each filling tube assembly, a vacuum manifold carried by the supporting means and connected to each vent tube, a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the vacuum manifold and to a source of vacuum, a vacuum control valve having ports connecting to the source of vacuum, to the atmosphere and to the overflow cylinders, cable lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the shafts and simultaneously operating the valve and in.- cluding a cable lift pulley and cables connected to the raising shafts and a belt connected to and alternately rotating the valve, and a common actuatin ontrol means for actuating the pulley whereby to move the cables and shafts and simultaneously therewith move the belt to alternately rotate the valve,

4;. In a vacuum filling machine for the simultaneous filling of a plurality of bottles or other containers with liquid from a supply tank, a housing having a container feed bed for supporting and positioning thereon the containers to be filled, a plurality of filling tube assemblies positioned above the feed bed and housing and each adapted to supply liquid to a container, each assembly including an air vent tube and a liquid supply tube connected to the supply tank, a vacuum manifold connecting the air vent tubes, a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the manifold, a vacuum pump, valve mechanism connected to the overflow cylinders, vacuum pump and atmosphere for alternately connecting a cylinder to the vacuum pump and then to the atmosphere, and a common manually actuated control means for operating the valve mechanism and simultaneously therewithraising and lowering the filling tube assemblies;

5. In a vacuum filling machine for the simultaneous filling of a plurality of containers with liquid to a predetermined height, a feed table, multiple filling tube assemblies vertically movable with respect to the feed table and the containers to be filled, and mechanism for raising and lowering the filling tube assemblies relative to the containers and into and out of filling position, said mechanism including spaced raising shafts carrying at their upper ends the filling tube as semblies, a lift cable connected to each raising shaft, a cable lift assembly having a cable lift pulley to which the ends of the lift cables are connected for moving the cables, shafts and filling tube assemblies in unison, and common manual actuating and control means for rotating the cable lift pulley through a predetermined arc to raise and lower the raising shafts simultaneously.

6. In a vacuum filling machine for the simultaneous filling of a plurality of bottles or other containers with liquid from a supply tank, a housing supporting and positioning thereon the containers to be filled, a plurality of filling tube assemblies mounted for vertical movement above the housing and each adapted to supply liquid from the supply tank to a container to a predetermined height, a vacuum pump, a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the filling tube assemblies and to the pump, valve mechanism connected to each cylinder, to the pump and to the atmosphere in such manner that each cylinder is alternately connected to the pump and then to the atmosphere whereby a vacuum is continuously applied to the filling tube assemblies but alternately to the cylinders to permit the overflow from the assemblies to alternately enter one cylinder while the other cylinder is draining the overflow collected therein to the supply tank, and common actuating mechanism for vertical movement of the filling tube assemblies and for rotation of the valve mechanism.

'7. In a vacuum filling machine, a plurality of filling tubes each connected to a liquid supply and provided with an air vent, a Vacuum pump, a pair of vacuum overflow cylinders connected to the pump and to the air vents of the filling tubes for applying a vacuum to these tubes and withdrawing any overflow during the filling operation, a valve foralternately connecting these cylinders to the vacuum pump and to the atmosphere, and common manually actuated mechanism for raising and lowering the filling tubes and simultaneously operating the valve to control the vacuum to the cylinders.

8, In a vacuum filling machine of the type in which a plurality of containers are simultane ously filled with a liquid to a predetermined height, a plurality of vacuum filling tubes each connected to a liquid supply and to an air vent, a vacuum pump, a pair of Vacuum overflow c'ylinders connected to the filling tubes, a valve for alternately connecting a cylinder to the pump and then to the atmosphere, and common manually actuated means for lowering the filling tubes into contact with the containers to be filled and raising and removing the filling tubes from the containers when the containers are filled and simul- 9 taneously therewith operating the valve whereby during the lowering operation one cylinder is connected to the vacuum and the other to the atmosphere.

9. In a vacuum filling machine of the type in which a plurality of containers are simultaneously filled with a liquid to a predetermined height, a plurality of vacuum filling tubes each connected to a liquid supply and to an air vent, a vacuum pump, a pair of vacuum overflow cyl- 1 inders connected to the filling tubes, a valve for alternately connecting a cylinder to the pump and then to the atmosphere, cable lift mechanism for lowering the filling tubes into contact with the containers to be filled and raising and 1 removing the filling tubes from the containers when the containers are filled and a vacuum control valve belt operated by the cable lift mechanism for simultaneously operating the valve whereby during the lowering operation one cylinder is connected to the vacuum and the other to the atmosphere.

IVAN H. RISSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 79,211 Custer June 23, 1868 1,253,820 Helson Jan. 15, 1918 1,437,916 Shelor Dec. 5, 1922 1 1,737,677 Pennock Dec. 3, 1929 2,347,858 Weeden May 2, 1944 2,503,147 Applezweig Apr. 4, 1950 

